The future of flight is closer than we think.  While we might not see a Jetson style portable aircraft crisscrossing an urban dense landscape before the end of 2024, the possibility for package delivery, regional air mobility and emergency deliveries are very real.

But what will make or break Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) is not the tech- but the policies, public trust and infrastructure. My takeaways from the VFS AAM Infrastructure Workshop held this week in Washington DC, as a planner who’s worked with communities introducing emerging technology to make the movement of people and goods easier, more accessible and sustainable.

1️⃣The Regulatory Burden is Real: AAM innovation has made rapid strides, but regulatory frameworks are still catching up. Policy being reactive is not news to policy wonks, but it has a huge effect on companies innovating in this space. McKinsey’s analysis reveals that the cash reserves of five publicly traded Western eVTOL companies will last between less than a year to just over three years, based on their current and projected burn rates. For AAM companies operating on a limited runway – both financially and literally – there needs to be adaptable regulatory models that allow for real-world testing and evolving policies. This is key to supporting both innovation and public trust without sacrificing safety.

2️⃣Public Acceptance is Make-or-Break: an oft-quoted industry rule of thumb estimates it takes 10 years and $1 billion to certify AAM aircraft designs and get approval for commercial flight. As some companies enter the last phase of certification and plan to enter the market, public skepticism is present in droves and acceptance is hard to come by. More transparent and inclusive conversations need to happen before someone else shoots down another Walmart drone.

3️⃣Technical Advancements in AAM as a Catalyst for New Industries: the focus on AAM sometimes overlooks the significant tech and engineering breakthroughs happening alongside it. These include precise weather forecasting—critical for navigating urban microclimates shaped by building typologies and open rural areas with no wind barriers—as well as advanced data architecture to facilitate seamless information sharing across different transportation modes like cars and transit. Additionally, managing AAMs in a crowded airspace will lead to a reimagining of the airspace traffic management as we know it today. Much like space travel gave rise to technologies like wireless headsets, ear thermometers and memory foam, the ripple effects of these innovations will go beyond AAM.

4️⃣Zoning and Land Use Policies are Vital: as a planning student, Land Use Law was my least favorite class. But it is the bulwark of how local agencies protect a community’s quality of life, environmental implications, growth and usage. Air rights, vertiport locations, and the fair use of public space are all part of the puzzle. Without thoughtful planning, we risk Scooter Armageddon Part 2, which doesn’t bode well for either cities, consumers or industry – or the growth of AAM. There needs to be a consistent approach with contextual considerations to ensure that all stakeholders benefit.

5️⃣EB 105A Update Coming Friday, Sept 20! Despite multiple challenges, the FAA has been instrumental in setting safety standards. Engineering Brief 105 provides updated interim safety standards for aviation facilities that electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft use for take-off and landing (aka vertiports). Comments will be due on the Federal Register website.

Policymakers, industry and communities need to collaborate if AAM is to grow. A unified, adaptable approach to regulation, land use and infrastructure development is essential to chart this path.

Dominic Mathew is a Policy and Partnerships Manager for SAFE’s Coalition for Reimagined Mobility (ReMo).